ACCTG 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Categorical Imperative, Deontological Ethics, Meta-Ethics
Document Summary
Metaethics involves the psychological basis or moral judgment and conduct what motivates us to be moral. Thomas hobbes argued that people are inherently selfish; psychological egoism maintains that self- oriented interest ultimately motivate all human actions. Psychological hedonism holds that pleasure is the specific driving force behind this. Joseph butler agreed but also states that people have an inherent capacity to show benevolence and called this psychological altruism. The second are of moral psychology involves a dispute concerning the role of reason in motivating moral actions. David hume said that our moral assessments are based on emotions, there is an emotive element (i like charity) and a prescriptive element (you should donate to charity). Immanuel kant on the other hand argued that although our emotions often influence our conduct, true moral action is motivated only by reason when it is free from emotions and desires.
